Democratic Underground is fast becoming a place where you cannot CRITICIZE Democrats

[placton]

Despite columns like:

David Sirota's on health care http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/05/16/sirota/

Glenn Greenwald's
- on hiding torture http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/05/17/cap/
- and on backtracking on civil liberties http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/05/17/cap/
- and on military commissions http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/05/15/military_commissions/index.html

Frank Rich's on failed and numerous attempts to cover up Bush's regime http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/17/opinion/17rich-5.html?_r=2&th&emc=th

just to name a few, placton feels just like he did twice in the past on DU. At the beginning of the Bush dictatorship, he compared Bush to Hitler, and predicted much of what happened - and was told to shut up. During the primaries, he criticized Obama in favor of Hillary - and was told to shut up.

One reason there is no longer a gold star next to this poster's name is the reaction of this board ( calling him a freeper and worse)- and the mods' (locking threads) to post critical of the Dems. Why pay to support something where honest criticism from a liberal Dem of over 40 years is met with scorn and insults.

Placton will keep criticizing - and saying I told you so - and others need to do the same - despite our party's leaders ignoring the people who are right over the people who are rich.

[Gman]

1. As well it should be..

because it is the Democratic Underground. If you knew the history of the origin of DU you would already know that.

[placton]

2. wow - really?

I have been on DU since 2000 - guess there is some mysterious time I was unaware of - and thanks for another snotty comment with no substance behind it

[rucky]

3. People who love movies also criticize them.

If they're not up to the standards of a true movie-lover.

[Forkboy]

37. Nonsense. Been here since 2001. Tell us about it's history?

And please point to the time when DU didn't criticize Democrats.

[Old Hank]

49. Even the moderators have said it's ok to criticize Democrats respectfully

So your claim is incorrect.

[Captain Hilts]

4. The handful of trolls that say Obama's no better than Bush poison the waters. nt

[cali]

6. spot on.

[Adelante]

17. That's right

I don't know why this is so hard to understand. Constructive criticism is one thing. Outright bashing and smearing is something else again.

[kestrel91316]

35. You got THAT right. I get sick of the ENDLESS attacks on him.

[Phx_Dem]

40. Aye aye Captain, Too true.

[w4rma]

42. Exactly. Some people think they can exagerate and lie and get away with it.

I have huge problems with Obama's choices on the economy with helping the big banks first and foremost, when they really don't have anything to give back to the economy. In fact, not helping them, would force them to make changes that would actually help our economy. Or at least the competition that would have replaced them would have done so.

See? I criticized him and I'm not banned or even warned not to do so.

[Captain Hilts]

57. Criticism with reasonable language often generates "Freeper!"s and so forth.

Polling showed that Obama's supporters had an intensity of feeling for him the other candidates could not match. the same is true here.

Some can discuss policy, but others jump through flaming hoops to defend EVERYTHING he does. He's a politician. It's that simple. But to so many people here, he's so much more than that.

I was a kid in the 60s and 70s, then 80s, so we had nearly 20 years where we didn't really like our presidents. I don't feel I have to like my president. But a lot do. The 'cool guy' thing usually works. FDR over Hoover. Ike over Stevenson. Kennedy over Nixon. Carter over Ford. Reagan over Carter. Clinton over GHWB. GWB over Gore. It obviously means a lot to a lot of people.

[cali]

5. bullshit. you can praise Obama to the skies or criticize him

all the live long day here on DU. That doesn't mean that others are going to fall at your darling little feet and agree with you. I'm so sick of this idiotic whining that is almost entirely built on a falsehood. And no, dear, people don't need to do what YOU tell them to. People are free, within certain reasonable rules, to say what they think. I don't need anyone telling me that I need to parrot what they deem appropriate. fuck that to hell and back.

[Captain Hilts]

11. I've got a couple of folks that follow me around and say I'm still bitter

over the primaries despite the fact that all through the primaries - where I broke for Hillary in the end - I said that I liked both candidates very much and would enthusiastically vote for either.

I've certainly praised a lot the president has done and it's just not enough for some folks here. It doesn't matter how much I say how relieved I am to have someone such as the president is in the White House.

[cali]

13. I know. there are idiots on both sides, but that wasn't

something I denied in the post you responded to.

[Captain Hilts]

14. No, it wasn't.

Keep up the good fight!

[Political Tiger]

7. Is this satire?

[cali]

8. there's something wrong with people that refer to themselves

in the third person. Your post is pathetic self-aggrandizing crap.

[Political Tiger]

15. I find that strange too.

Especially when the refer to themselves in the third person by their screen name!

[cali]

19. lol. when I first read the OP, I didn't notice that placton was the author

and I thought he/she was referring to some obscure author named (blank) Placton.

[placton]

20. thanks for your criticism

learned 3rd person as newspaper reporter - and wonder how post is self aggrandizing?

[cali]

30. claiming that you're oh so right is a wee bit self-aggrandizing

as is referring to yourself in the third person.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

34. "dog, I hate stupid" is not "self-aggrandizing crap"?

Relax, I do it too.
------------------

"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
--Edith Sitwell

[Strong Atheist]

70. Off topic:

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news138.html

[asteroid2003QQ47]

73. Yes, we put that out to prevent panic. eom

[Hippo_Tron]

64. Bob Dole is a friend of the tobacco industry, Bob Dole likes your style, Bob Dole

[countingbluecars]

9. I see plenty of threads

critical of Democrats. Does it bother you that not everybody agrees with the criticism?

[saltpoint]

10. I had a dream quite recently of the late Howell Heflin (D-AL). Howell appeared

in the dream in Speedo briefs -- purple with an orange seahorse pattern provocatively slanted across the front -- atop those cliffs in Acapulco where the daredevil divers do their sky-diving into the sea.

Villagers, country merchants, local entrepreneurs, workaday townfolk on their lunch breaks, and other onlookers had gathered to watch Senator Heflin (D-AL) hurl himself off the cliff into the salty brine.

And there he went. Dropping downward into the sea. Except -- and this happens predictably in the domain of dreams -- upon impact Senator Heflin (D-AL) landed not in ocean water but into an unaccountably vast sea of macaroni and cheese.

In the context of the dream, it was left unclear whether this was felt to be a good thing or a bad thing, although the gathered crowd erupted into applause, some muttering religious invocations. Two nuns knelt to the ground and wept openly. Perhaps the saltwater-to-mac&cheese phenomenon was known to the locals much in the way the flash-of-green phenomenon is known to residents of Florida's Gulf Coast.

In any case the dream was vivid and impressive and I wanted to seize this opportunity to share it with everyone.

Thank you, and God Bless America.

[Captain Hilts]

12. That's a riot! nt

[Adelante]

16. I don't know how well you know Placton, Placton

But he has a gold star next to his name. Better let him know.

[placton]

18. rofl

you are right - just noticed it was there again - sometime I can be such a tool!

[avaistheone1]

21. Despite the denials on this thread criticism exists on the board.

However many of the membership are not comfortable with criticism of Democrats, and think we are being disloyal. I am loyal to the principles of the Democratic party, not to the leadership. If the Democrats are are not supporting policies and legislation that is good for the people I am going to continue to scream loud and clear about it no matter what.

[cali]

23. so what? so what if there are people here who aren't comfortable

with criticism of democrats? And I maintain that they're a very small minority, but again, and more emphatically, so the fuck what if there are people here who don't agree with you? Now continue on with your self-praise. I can see how noble and courageous you are.

[avaistheone1]

25. Good. I am glad it shows.

Maybe some will rub off if you are lucky.

[cali]

26. lol. no thanks. I don't

aspire to being like you.

[avaistheone1]

27. Nor I like you.

You know what I mean.

[cali]

29. actually, I don't do mind reading so I don't know what you mean

but then again I'm not that interested. Glad we've settled that we don't care to be like one another though.

[JAbuchan08]

67. LOL! You just said he was noble and courageous

and followed it up by saying you don't want to be like him. That's frickin' hilarious.

[stray cat]

22. DU? Doesn't appear to be the case - everyone is always on a soapbox

for or against something someone has done.

[TheWraith]

24. Excuse me? What world do you live in? There's almost nothing BUT criticism.

And yeah, if you go completely over the top, or start lying, people are going to call you on it. Boo hoo, you actually have to deal with people who disagree with you!

[BlooInBloo]

28. " Placton will keep... saying I told you so" - Yes, we know...

That's the price of winning.

[NoPasaran]

31. Horseshit

Somedays is just like Free Republic with better web design and a spellcheck.

[firedupdem]

32. Looks as if the criticism is alive and festering. Have at it. Who

is stopping you?

[NYC_SKP]

36. Yep, and they'll get 126 recs, or so.

****But if you call out the undeleted critical threads with a fresh OP, it will be locked. (use alert instead)****
@@@I won't link to the locked thread, of course, but I will do copy and paste of the meaty bits...@@@ :hi:

Roll up for the piss story tour, step right this way:

'we just voted us a real slick and smooth con artist for president'
'Con Artist Seems Correct!'
"Slick Willie" Clinton's an AMATURE compared to this shit...!!!'
'Obama is becoming Cheney...I'm disgusted.'
'he's doing what Bush would do, but being polite about it'
'Never trust a prejudiced religionist posure. Ever. They have no ethical core. Obama is a better Republican than Clinton was.'

These (and many more) were from one GD thread (with 125 Recs) on Cenk's DKos critique of the torture photos decision. There is a lot of heat about the issue, but the personal attacks get lower.

We went through the 'Obama is a swindler' phase in the Primaries, but it never really went away. And yes, you can expect, strong responses from all quarters to those who wish to personally vilify the President.

Once, it was a DU rule that posters should not compare another DU'er to Bush. It's gone now, and a lot went with it.

This is not a call out, it's a about a pattern of abuse. Answering each post individually at the time does not confront issue.

:patriot:

PS: Watch this reply get deleted, signed, Name Removed.

[Fire1]

53. LOL!! Luv your post script!!! LOL!!!

[NYC_SKP]

61. Arrr. Thay be Narwhals, matey!

Swimmin deep b'low ev'ry reply o mine! :P

[DU GrovelBot]

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[saltpoint]

54. Bullshit! Asshat! Troll!

No, wait...

[PBS Poll-435]

60. ...

:rofl::rofl::rofl:


Poor GB...

[Phx_Dem]

38. DU has become a place where Dems criticize their own party in the same

manner as the GOP does.

What fun.

[Forkboy]

39. This is as silly as the thread it's copying.

Both sides can, and do, criticize and defend Obama daily. It's nonsense to think that either one isn't allowed.

[LaurenG]

41. I'm getting sick of both sides of this

There are a bunch of big babies wandering the DU forums. I expect to see all the mad people throw themselves on the floor and kick their feet about how AWFUL it all is. :eyes:

No one is going to get everything they want and Obama is certainly not going to walk on water. He still has feet, not wings.

[Number23]

62. You and me both, sister!

I'm with you.

I am so sick of all of the whining, screaming brats on here. Just PLEASE shut the hell up already! If you feel so "silenced" and "intimidated" then GO AWAY. I am seriously starting to believe that the biggest cryers here must have the world's cushiest lives. They need to join the Peace Corps or something. Perhaps seeing REAL suffering and REAL oppression will make them grow the hell up.

[azmouse]

43. Oh just cut this shit out already, would ya?

NOBODY is stopping you from critizing the President. Knock yourself out.

[emulatorloo]

44. This reminds me of Carrie Prejean's concept of "free speech".

Which boils down to

"I should be able to say anything I like, but no body is allowed to critique what I say."

[formercia]

45. We must be running out of GOP crazies.

Typical family behavior.

[grantcart]

46. Let me see if I understand what you are saying

Since donor stars stay up for 12 months you anticipated the current reaction to the board and the mods locking action in April of 2008 or sooner?


Do you have any advance information on stocks?

[HamdenRice]

47. Pure unadulterated rubbish. Btw, I love the way you talk about yourself in the third person like ...

Bob Dole. Beyond noting the bizarre third person discourse you use to talk about yourself, there is nothing interesting about this post.

There's little more to say beyond that when someone posts something so utterly counter-factual as the OP.

[stillcool]

48. here you go...

you could always be nice and ask others to join in your cause, and contact their representatives as you most assuredly have done.
http://change.gov/content/home
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt

[TheKentuckian]

50. There are probably more threads criticizing Democrats than Republicans

[depakid]

56. That's because Democrats are in power- and ever as has been the case for almost 20 years

seem to embrace Republican policies- despite the overwhelming mandate not to do so.

Failure to pass a reasonable usury statute- or the mortgage cramdown given the current economic circumstances shows that Democrts can be and often are EVERY BIT as corrupt, cowardly and craven as any Republican.

And the more they behave that way, the fewer boots on the ground there will be come 2010 and 2012. And rightly so.

[BzaDem]

51. No, it isn't. But you should think it is if it makes you feel better.

Please show us some threads that were locked because they were critical of Obama.

[Spazito]

52. Oh, please....

I just LOVE OPs where the poster claims they can't do the very thing they are already doing in posting the OP. Self-professed 'martyrdom' really doesn't go over well on DU yet here we are.

Bizarre.

[Occam Bandage]

55. That certainly explains why most threads here expressing an opinion are usually critical. nt

[Terran]

58. Oh bullshit. Bullshit. Bullshit.

Your post is too moronic for words. Nobody is censoring you. Just fucking carry on as you fucking see fit and stop WHINING.

[MasonJar]

59. Placton keep giving your viewpoint. I intend to. I am nobody's

cheerleader even if he is a Dem. I think it is good to push Obama left; it will be the only way he gets there, and it will be to his advantaage when all is said and done. History will not look favorably on Obama if he continues to avoid the tough choices.

[CreekDog]

69. he said he can't do what he did

so how valid is his viewpoint? :dunce:

[CreekDog]

63. bullshit, the criticism has never stopped, it's barely even slowed

being criticized doesn't mean that you aren't free to make your statements.

it's hypocritical to expect to make your statements of criticism and feel immune to being criticized for the quality of what you say.

:patriot:

[berni_mccoy]

65. The fact that there are even 12 recs on this thread is alarming.

[dionysus]

66. uh.... most of the threads on here criticize democrats, what DU are you on?

[Jennicut]

68. If it not deleted than you can argue what you want on both sides.

[flvegan]

71. My cat's name is Mittens.

[aldo]

72. The Borg drones are going to be very unhappy with you. eom

nt